About

About Elizabeth Ainsworth

• Occupational Therapist with over 35 years’ experience working in the housing field (over 40 years working as an OT).
• Presenter of home modification workshops, lectures, and education events
• Co-author of a book on home modifications practice – Ainsworth, E. & de Jonge, D. (2019). An occupational therapist’s guide to home modification practice (2nd ed.). Thorofare, NJ: SLACK Inc.
• Recipient of the 2013 Occupational Therapy Australia – Qld Division Mary Rankine Wilson Award for Professional Excellence
• Recipient of 2015 Australian Postgraduate Award Scholarship through the University of Qld
• Recipient of the 2015 Occupational Therapy Australia – Qld Division Louise Van Willigen Memorial Scholarship
• Recipient of the 2017 Occupational Therapy Australia National Elspeth Pearson Award
• Accredited and Qualified Access Consultant
• Expert for Qld and Canadian Supreme Court medico legal cases relating to claimant/defendant home modification/housing matters

Specialities

• Providing medico legal assessments for the court system as an expert witness
• Specialty relates to providing home modification and new domestic construction recommendations to people with a range of conditions including spinal injury, head injury, neurocognitive disorders, orthopaedic injury, musculoskeletal disoders etc.
• Providing services to older people and people with a disability requiring home modification and new domestic design assessment and case management services.
• Providing assessment of public buildings and facilities in relation to the requirements/intent of the Premises Standards, Disability Discrimination Act, Building and Plumbing Codes and Australian Standards relating to access for people with a disability, and documentation of reports for organizations.
• Providing advice, mentoring and coaching to occupational therapists providing home modification services in the community or to services enquiring about best practice/evidence based solutions to best meet the needs of their clients.
• Presenting lectures to undergraduate university students and clinicians; and guest speaker at building industry, legal and occupational therapy events.
• Co-authoring and presenting information at various forums relating to the occupational therapy profession, and universal design and home modification practice.

Published Papers

Ainsworth, E., Aplin, T., de Jonge, D., & Bennett, S. (2022). Understanding home modification outcomes from the perspective of older people and people with a disability: informing home modification evaluation. Disability and Rehabilitation. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2022.2146765

Aplin, T., Hoyle, M., Fiechtner, E., Bailey, A., & Ainsworth, E. (2020). Home modification service delivery in Australia. Journal of Aging and Environment, 34(2), 190-209. doi: 10.1080/26892618.2020.17435132

Aplin, T., & Ainsworth, E. (2018). Clinical utility of the In-Home Occupational Performance Evaluation (IHOPE) for major home modification practice in Australia. Australian Journal of Occupational
Therapy. https://doi.org/10.1111/1440-1630.12510

de Jonge D, Aplin T, Larkin S, Ainsworth E. (2016). The aesthetic appeal of assistive technology and the economic value baby boomers place on it: A pilot study. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 63(6), 415-423. doi: 10.1111/1440-1630.12286.

Ainsworth, E. (2016). Mods make home a help, not a hindrance. Australian Community Care Review, August, 16-18.

Ainsworth, E. (2016). Modifying the home: Building, inclusion, practice. OT Connections, August (13)4, 17-19.

Ainsworth, E., de Jonge, D., Layton, N. (2016). Home modifications in Australia. Housing Learning and Improvement Network, UK. http://www.housinglin.org.uk/_library/Resources/Housing/Practice_examples/Housing_LIN_case_studies/HLIN_CaseStudy_119_Australia.pdf

Ainsworth, E. (2015). ACAA conference summary. OT Connections. October, 12(6), 34-35.

Ainsworth, E. & de Jonge, D. (2014). The relevance and application of universal design in occupational therapy practice. OT NOW, 16(5), 5-7. http://www.caot.ca/default.asp?pageid=466

Ainsworth, E. & de Jonge, D. (2014). Universal design and home modification practice in Australia. OT NOW, 16(5), 29-30. http://www.caot.ca/default.asp?pageid=466

Ainsworth, E. & de Jonge, D. (2010). Access standards for home modification practice. Journal of the Independent Living Centres Australia, 25(4), 24-25.

de Jonge, D., Ainsworth, E. & Tanner, B. (2006). Home modifications down under: Promoting independence for older persons with disabilities. Assistive Technology Research Series. Selected Papers from the 2006 International Conference on Aging, Disability and Independence.

Ainsworth, E. (2005). Occupational therapy: Creating home environments that sustain the health and wellbeing of the ageing population.  National Speakers Series.  Australian Association of Gerontology.  www.health.gov.au/communityforallages

Ainsworth, E. (1989).  Employer attitudes: Hiring individuals with a mild intellectual disability.  Department of Family Services Community Bulletin, 13(3), 10–12.

Paper and Poster Presentations

Ainsworth, E. (2024). History in the making: A showcase of practitioner excellence in the development of AS 1428.  Paper presented at the Australian Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology Conference, Gold Coast, 6-8 November 2024

Ainsworth, E. & Martin, S. (2024). Addressing complexity to create inclusive and innovative housing and technology solutions. Workshop presented at the Australian Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology Conference, Gold Coast, 6-8 November 2024

Ainsworth, E. & Martin, S. (2024). Minor modifications, equipment and technology: A complementary partnership to achieve transformative outcomes. Workshop presented at the Australian Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology Conference, Gold Coast, 6-8 November 2024

Ainsworth, E., Nikles, S., & Gregory, P. (2024). Cycling to freedom: The transformative outcome of assistive technology to achieve inclusion in life.  Paper presented  at the Australian Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology Conference, Gold Coast, 6-8 November 2024

Ainsworth, E. (2022). Home modification innovation in policy, practice and research in Australia. The OT Show, Birmingham. 23 – 24 November 2022.

Ainsworth, E., Aplin, T.,& Bennett. S (2022). The perspectives of older people and people about important home modification outcomes. Paper – MOD.A (Home Modifications Australia) National Home Modifications Conference. 21 – 22 February 2022

Ainsworth, E., Aplin, T., de Jonge, D., & Bennett. S (2020). The perspectives of occupational therapists and managers about important home modification outcomes. Paper – Occupational Therapy Exchange, Virtual National Conference. 14–15 September 2020

Ainsworth, E. (2018). Home modifications in Australia. Paper – Home Modifications Canada Conference, Toronto, Canada. 29 November 2018

Ainsworth, E. & de Jonge, D. (2017). An international perspective on home modification service provision: Challenges to partnerships and practice with older people and people with a disability. Poster – Occupational Therapy Australia National Conference. Perth, Western Australia, Australia – held 18 – 21 July 2017.

Ainsworth, E., Aplin, T., Gustafsson, L., & de Jonge, D. (2017). Australian consumer experiences of home modifications: Considerations for outcome measurement. Paper – the International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics (IAGG) Conference, San Francisco, USA – 23-23 July 2017.

Ainsworth, E., Aplin, T., Gustafsson, L., & de Jonge, D. (2017). Measuring home modification outcomes in Australia.Paper – the Royal College of Occupational Therapists’ Housing Conference, 9-10 November 2017, Belfast, Ireland.

Ainsworth, E., Aplin, T., Gustafsson, L., & de Jonge, D. (2017). Understanding consumers’ experiences of home modification outcomes: Considerations for partnerships and practice. Paper – Occupational Therapy Australia National Conference. Perth, Western Australia, Australia – held 18 – 21 July 2017.

Ainsworth, E. (2016). Home modification practice issues. Paper – State Occupational Therapy Conference NT/Qld Division, Brisbane, Queensland.

Ainsworth, E. & Aplin, T. (2015). The clinical utility of the In Home Occupational Performance (I-HOPE). Paper – Occupational Therapy Australia National Conference. Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Earlier paper and poster presentation information available on request.